from Quarterback rankings: Top 32 signal-callers across NFL

Gregg Rosenthal

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000920622/article/quarterback-rankings-top-32-signalcallers-across-nfl

2018 promises to be a year of transition at the quarterback position. The deepest free-agent quarterback crop in ages arrives just before the deepest rookie quarterback class in at least six seasons. Aaron Rodgers, Carson Wentz, Andrew Luck, Deshaun Watson and Ryan Tannehill are on the mend after serious injuries, while the muddy middle class of quarterbacking is marked by a talented group of young franchise signal-callers jockeying to elevate their status.

Add it all up and there will be a lot happening to shake up the QB picture throughout the league this year. Before that all goes down, we wanted to take a snapshot of where the position stands right now.

Below is a ranking of the top 32 quarterbacks in the NFL, regardless of team. Players like Blake Bortles, Colin Kaepernick, AJ McCarron and Mitchell Trubisky just missed the cut.

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20 Jared Goff, QB Rams

Goff flourished in Los Angeles last season partly because of incredible support: Great pass protection, open receivers, yards after the catch and clearly defined reads. His timing and accuracy were on point for a young pro just starting to develop

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from: https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/12/richard-sherman-san-francisco-49ers-john-lynch-mmqb-peter-king

Peter King

SEATTLE IS CHANGING

I was in Seattle over the weekend, and someone at my hotel asked: “Are the Seahawks done? Or is there more to come?” More? I asked. “Purging,” the guy said.

There very well could be. But let me start by quoting Pete Carroll. “The central theme in this program is competition,” he said to the media on the Wednesday before Super Bowl 49. “It’s not about the opponent. We compete against each other.

There will be a lot of one-on-ones, offense against defense, right off the bat, to get the tempo and the speed and the feel we want. It’s about make it a great practice day, and we compete against each other as hard as we can. We keep score. Somebody’s gonna win, somebody’s gonna lose today.”

I always wondered this: Carroll and GM John Schneider emphasize nothing but competition, almost daily. But at that time, the days Carroll spoke, he had 14 starters who, honestly, could have been relative no-shows at a given practice and they wouldn’t have lost their jobs. So what were the consequences for Marshawn Lynch or Kam Chancellor or Richard Sherman if, say, they dogged it and didn’t have a good practice on Wednesday? Nothing.

Now, I think, that changes. I think the Seahawks have a couple of nucleus players on both sides of the ball. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin on offense. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright on defense—and Earl Thomas, if he stays. That’s a big “if.” There are several “ifs.” Because the Seahawks don’t know if a team out there is going to come hard after safety Earl Thomas, who probably can be had in this post-Legion of Boom era for Seattle, but only for a significant package.

It seems likely that pass-rusher Cliff Avril will retire because of a neck injury, and strong safety Kam Chancellor’s future is uncertain too, for the same reasons. So I don’t think the transition from this generational defense is necessarily done with the Richard Sherman defection to San Francisco.

When Carroll and Schneider had their arranged marriage in January 2010—Carroll was hired first, and Schneider, the road scout, followed from Green Bay—they reveled in the fact that they both loved change, and they both loved trusting young players. So what’s happened in growing relatively old with Sherman and Thomas and Chancellor and the like is probably not who Carroll and Schneider are.

Carroll loved the constant turnover of college football, pitting the new recruit against the established starter through competition. He may not say it publicly, but he really has missed that through the last five or six seasons, since the Seahawks got really good and became Super Bowl contenders.

But at some point, to be true to yourself, you’ve got to go back to your ethos. And the Carroll/Schneider ethos is finding Sherman in the fifth round and plugging him in and discovering gold, and finding Wilson in the third round and plugging him in and finding the same kind of gold.

I heard a story about the Seahawks last season. A young player got to the team, and looked around the locker room, and told one of the veterans, “I played you with Madden when I was in high school.” You’ve got to be peers when you go play an NFL game. Should young players be little puppy dogs, in awe of the guys in their own room?

The next big thing in Seattle may not come this week. But look for teams to sniff around Thomas, due to make $8.5 million in the last year of his current deal. He turns 29 in May. The deal would have to be sizable for Seattle to give him up, but 29-year-old safeties are not usually long-termers. And Seattle is in the market for a new breed of Seahawk. So that bears watching.

Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects for 2018 NFL Draft 2.0

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000919918/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2018-nfl-draft-20?campaign=tw-nn–sf184231381-sf184231381&sf184231381=1&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Now that the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine is in the rearview mirror, I’ve updated my ranking of the top 50 prospects in this year’s draft. My top two players remain the same — Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (No. 1) and Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson (No. 2) — but the movement begins once we get past them on the list. Several defensive players, including Georgia’s Roquan Smith and Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne, are making a big move up the board. There are also seven players in this installment of the top 50 that weren’t on my initial list in January. The changes to this list are based mainly on my review of their combine workout, health and more tape work.

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1
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Barkley is one of the most dynamic running backs to enter the NFL in the last decade. He’s built like a brick house, with an extremely thick/muscular lower body. On inside runs, he’s quick to press the line of scrimmage before stopping, sorting and then exploding through the hole. When he decides to bounce the ball outside, Barkley has an incredible lateral burst. He’s at his best on stretch runs. When he puts his foot in the ground and drives upfield, his suddenness is exceptional. He rarely drops his shoulder on contact, but his lower-body strength allows him to power through tacklers, and he also possesses a violent stiff arm. He has elite home-run speed and can make defenders miss at the second and third level without gearing down. Barkley’s a versatile weapon in the passing game, capable of splitting out wide and running receiver routes with ease. He has natural hands. He’s also reliable in pass protection, displaying both awareness and willingness. Overall, Barkley is capable of becoming the best player at his position very early in his NFL career.
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2
Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Nelson lined up at left guard for the Irish this past season and that is where he projects at the next level. He has a thick, hulking build — and he’s the nastiest offensive line prospect I’ve ever evaluated. In the run game, he is quick out of his stance and has the ability to completely wash opposing players down the line of scrimmage. He rolls his hips on contact, locks on with a powerful grip and doesn’t let up until he’s finished the job. Nelson is very effective when he works up to the second level on combo blocks and pulls. He can adjust in space and he blocks through the whistle consistently. In pass protection, Nelson possesses an immediate anchor vs. power rushers and effortlessly handles twists and stunts. Overall, Nelson has all of the tools to be the best run blocker in the NFL and he’ll be reliable in pass protection. He’s the easiest player to evaluate in this draft class.
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3
Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State 1
Chubb has ideal size, strength and instincts. He primarily lines up with his hand down, but did stand up at times for the Wolfpack. As a pass rusher, he has a good get-off, but he is an outstanding technician with his hands. He wins with rip moves, swipe moves and a powerful bull rush. He can bend and wrap the edge. Chubb’s motor never stops. His ability to finish is outstanding and it’s reflected in his production. He was asked to drop into coverage some, and while he’s serviceable in this capacity, he’s best served moving forward, not backward. Against the run, he shocks blockers with his hands. He can locate the ball and close ground quickly. He dominates tight ends. Overall, Chubb has a natural feel as a pass rusher and should be a double-digit sack artist very early in his career.
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4
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State 4
Ward is an undersized cornerback (5-foot-10, 191 pounds, per school measurements) with excellent quickness, toughness and ball skills. In press coverage, he is patient and he’ll catch and re-route before settling on the receivers and mirroring down the field. In off coverage, he is a fluid mover and explodes out of his plant to drive on the football. He is very twitched up. Ward’s ball awareness is excellent — he can locate and high-point the ball down the field. His lack of size does show up on occasion vs. taller opponents, but overall, he plays much bigger than his height. He’s very aggressive in run support and has some snap on contact as a tackler. At the end of the day, Ward might lack ideal size, but he is a very skilled player and I love his competitiveness. He reminds me of a young Adam Jones.
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5
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech 2
Edmunds has a unique blend of size, length and athleticism. He primarily lines up off the line of scrimmage, but does get some work rushing off the edge. Against the run, he is quick to key, fill and finish as a tackler. He has rare lateral range and collects tackles from sideline to sideline. The former Hokie flashes the ability to shoot his hands and play off blocks, but this is one area where he can improve. Against the pass, he easily mirrors running backs and tight ends; there are even examples of him matching up and redirecting vs. slot receivers. He offers tremendous upside as an edge rusher, where he can dip/rip and bend around the edge. Overall, Edmunds has All-Pro ability. His upside is outrageous.
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6
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama 1
Fitzpatrick is an outstanding playmaker who possesses the versatility to play every position in the secondary. He primarily lined up as the nickel this past season, but he played cornerback as well as safety in previous campaigns. He’s at his best when allowed to float and keep his eyes on the quarterback. He has outstanding instincts, anticipation and ball skills. In man coverage, he has the size and speed to match up with both the big/physical pass-catchers as well as the smaller/quicker wideouts. He does have some hip tightness when he changes direction, but he recovers quickly because of his explosiveness. Against the run, he’s aggressive to attack the line of scrimmage and is a very dependable tackler in space. He’s an outstanding blitzer, displaying timing and burst. I love the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the defense. Overall, I see Fitzpatrick as a dynamic safety on run downs and a playmaking nickel on passing downs. He’s a bigger version of Tyrann Mathieu and I think he will make a similar impact in the league.
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7
Sam Darnold, QB, USC 1
Darnold has a thick/sturdy frame and the desired height for the position. He operated in the shotgun in the Trojans’ offense. He has quick feet in his setup and throws from a wide base. He has a long, loopy throwing motion, but it’s actually very quick and explosive — and he has shown the ability to tighten it up at times. He has very quick eyes to work through progressions and throws with excellent anticipation. He’s adept at changing ball speed and ball flight. He has enough velocity to fit balls into tight windows. Once he improves his weight transfer from his back foot to his front foot, he will see an uptick in accuracy and velocity. Darnold is a very nifty athlete, capable of escaping free rushers and creating explosive plays downfield. He’s also a very competitive runner who fights for extra yards. His biggest issue has been his propensity to fumble the ball. He needs to do a better job of keeping both hands on the ball in the pocket and covering the ball up once he takes off. Overall, Darnold has some areas to clean up, but I love his size, competitiveness and ability to make plays on and off schedule.
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8
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA 1
Rosen has ideal height/weight for his position, although he does have a narrow frame. He’s the best pure passer in the draft. Rosen is precise in his drop and throws from a firm platform. He has a sharp, quick release and throws a majestic ball. He’s at his best in rhythm/on-time throws. His anticipation is excellent, as is his ball placement. He has plenty of velocity to make every throw. Issues arise when he’s under duress. He struggles to create on his own and his accuracy suffers when he’s forced off his original launch point. When a lane opens up, he will pick up the free yards with his feet, but he needs to improve his ability to escape when pressured. Durability is also a concern. Overall, I think Rosen is ready to play right away, but he needs to continue to develop his off-script skills.
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9
Derwin James, S, Florida State 2
James is a versatile talent with exceptional size, speed and physicality. He lined up all over the field for the Seminoles. He took snaps at both safety spots, nickel cornerback, sub-package linebacker and was asked to rush from the outside linebacker position on occasion during his collegiate career. In my opinion, he’s more valuable when he plays closer to the line of scrimmage. He excels covering backs and tight ends and is a dynamic blitzer. When he lines up as the deep safety, he lacks ideal anticipation and needs to improve his angles to the alley in run support. He doesn’t have a ton of ball production, but that will improve once he settles into a more defined role. When he’s aligned in the box, he is quick to key/read against the run; he explodes to and through ball carriers. His lateral range is outstanding and he makes a lot of plays from the back side. To see his game speed, watch him run down Lamar Jackson in the Louisville contest. Overall, I see James as a box safety or weak-side linebacker at the next level.
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10
Vita Vea, DT, Washington 1
Vea is a massive defensive tackle prospect with remarkable power, quickness and agility. He’s a dominant run defender, routinely resetting the line of scrimmage against both individual blockers and double-teams. He’s quick to shoot his hands, latch on and toss opposing blockers before quickly pursuing the football. He has rare lateral range for a 340-pound defender. He also flashes the ability to use his quickness to split gaps and create negative plays. As a pass rusher, he has a nasty slap/swim move. He can roll his hips and generate pocket push with his power. There are times where he plays too tall and consequently gets controlled. That can be improved. Overall, Vea is a more athletic version of Haloti Ngata and should quickly emerge as a Pro Bowl player.
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11
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia 8
Smith is an undersized inside linebacker with excellent instincts and range. Against inside runs, he uses his quickness to beat blockers to spots and is a firm, chest-up tackler. He does need to improve his hand usage because once blockers get into him, he struggles to free himself. He’s at his best against perimeter runs. Smith brings outstanding recognition and covers ground quickly. I believe he projects best as a 4-3 WLB where he would be able to use his speed to run-and-chase without having to mix it up inside. Against the pass, he has the speed and agility to cover RBs and TEs. He’s an excellent blitzer. Smith might lack the ideal bulk, but he’s a playmaker against both the run and pass.
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12
Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA 2
Davenport is a raw edge rusher with outstanding size, length and explosiveness. He aligned in a two-point stance for UTSA but could easily play with his hand in the ground as a 4-3 defensive end at the next level. As a pass rusher, he has a very quick first step and flashes the power to bull through tight ends and offensive tackles. He doesn’t always have a game plan and that will lead to him stalling out if he doesn’t win early in the down. His ability to bend and wrap around the edge is very impressive for his size. He’s a little segmented right now, but once he gets his feet and hands to work together, he will emerge as a double-digit sack artist. In the run game, he dominates tight ends at the point of attack. His effort and speed from the back side is outstanding. Overall, Davenport isn’t a finished product, but I’m bullish on his future because of his rare size, athleticism and effort.
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13
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Mayfield lacks the ideal height for the quarterback position, but he has a muscled-up/square build similar to Russell Wilson. He operated in the shotgun for the Sooners. He has a unique setup: He’s very frenetic, but he’s consistently accurate despite throwing from a variety of platforms and arm angles. He generates a lot of torque from his lower body. You need to see him play in person to fully appreciate the way the ball jumps out of his hand. His offensive line did a nice job of keeping him clean at OU, but when pressured, he showed the ability to extend plays while keeping his eyes down the field. He’s accurate on the move and while he lacks top speed, he is very effective on designed QB runs. The biggest challenge in his evaluation involves the lack of tight-window throws he’s had to make. It will take some time for him to adjust to the lack of space at the next level. There are some questions about his maturity on and off the field. Long story short, Mayfield might lack ideal size, but I love his accuracy, playmaking skills and toughness. He has the tools to be a quality NFL starting quarterback early in his career.
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14
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Allen has ideal size, arm strength and mobility. At Wyoming, he split time underneath and in the shotgun. He has quick feet in his setup and a smooth, fluid release. He’s at his best driving the ball to the outside. He generates outrageous velocity and can squeeze the ball into very tight windows. He must improve on touch throws, but he has shown the ability to change ball speed and throw with loft. He needs to throw with more anticipation and there are times where he really locks onto his initial read, which can lead to pass breakups and turnovers. While he has room to improve on his overall ball placement, there were numerous dropped balls by his receivers in every game I studied. Allen’s combination of athleticism and strength allows him to avoid free rushers and shake off tacklers. He’s an aggressive runner and he’s been effective on designed QB runs as well as scrambles. Allen isn’t a finished product, but he offers unlimited upside, provided his drafting team exercises patience.
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15
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama 9
Payne is a powerful, run-stuffing defensive tackle with pass-rush upside. Against the run, he launches out of his stance and quickly shoots his hands to generate knock-back against single blocks. He will also use a quick slap/swim to disrupt. He holds up well vs. double-teams and has tremendous lateral range. As a pass rusher, he has a quick get-off, but he needs to develop a plan. Most of his pressure is the result of his swim move. He needs to work on counter moves. His effort is excellent. Overall, Payne is built to dominate on run downs right now. He has the athletic ability and power to emerge as a much better pass rusher in the near future. He helped himself at the NFL Scouting Combine.
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16
Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville 7
Alexander is a tough, instinctive cornerback prospect. He spent the majority of his time on the outside at Louisville, but he did take a few reps at the nickel spot. He’s excellent in press coverage. He consistently re-routes his opponent with a quick two-hand jam. He has a little stiffness when he opens up, but he’s rarely out of position underneath or down the field. From off coverage, he has a choppy pedal, but he boasts an excellent burst out of his plant and drive. His route recognition, throw anticipation and ball awareness are elite. He collected several pass breakups in every game I studied. He’s very willing in run support and provides some big hits. Overall, Alexander lacks ideal fluidity, but I love his instincts, swagger and ball skills.
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17
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU 2
Guice is a very shifty running back with excellent quickness and power. He has a thick/square build and runs with a very low pad level. On inside runs, he likes to press the hole and pause before using a jump-cut. Once he gets north and south, Guice seeks out second-level defenders and lowers his shoulder on contact. He has excellent contact balance. He doesn’t have elite top speed, but his short-area quickness is outstanding. He’s effective on perimeter runs, but he’s more natural running inside. He was underutilized in the passing game at LSU, but he displayed adequate ball skills. He needs to be more firm in pass protection. Overall, Guice has a nice blend of power and quickness. He’s built to carry a heavy workload at the next level.
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18
Mike Hughes, CB, UCF 2
Hughes is a fluid, agile cornerback prospect with the versatility to play inside or outside. He has good size and excels in press coverage, where he incorporates a two-hand jam and rarely allows a free release. He has very quick feet. He redirects and mirrors opponents with ease. From off coverage, Hughes has a fluid pedal and shows some pop out of his plant/drive. He’s rarely out of phase in coverage, but when he is, he has the speed to recover. His ball awareness is excellent. He isn’t a physical tackler, but he goes low and gets the ball carrier on the ground. Hughes did have an off-the-field issue at his previous school (North Carolina). Overall, Hughes is an outstanding cover cornerback and he’s ready to start right away at the next level.
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19
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama 8
Evans is a versatile, playmaking linebacker. He moved all over the field in the Alabama defense. He aligned off the ball in the middle of the defense, stood up outside and even occasionally put his hand in the ground as a defensive end in pass-rush situations. Against the run, he’s a tick late to key/read, but once he makes up his mind, he closes in a hurry. He runs right through blockers and if he doesn’t make the tackle, he creates a pileup to slow down the ball carrier. He has outstanding speed to range sideline to sideline. He will miss an occasional tackle in space because he rarely breaks down, instead looking for the big hit. In coverage, he can easily mirror tight ends and backs. He will even match up in the slot at times. He isn’t a polished pass rusher, but he can win with pure speed and effort. Overall, Evans is a tone-setter on defense and his versatility is a huge asset.
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20
Ronald Jones II, RB, USC 8
Jones is one of the most explosive players in the draft. He’s similar to Jamaal Charles in size and style. On inside runs, he’s very aggressive in attacking the line of scrimmage and can avoid defenders in tight quarters. He has tackle-breaking power as a result of his lower-leg drive and he mixes in a violent stiff arm. He has a good feel for the cutback lane and displays exceptional lateral burst. On outside runs, he easily gets to the perimeter and is elusive in space. Once he gets a step, Jones has elite breakaway speed. He has improved as both a receiver and blocker. He fought the ball as a sophomore, but was more comfortable as a pass-catcher this fall. He is aware in pass pro, but still gets caught on his heels at times. Overall, Jones is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and I love his toughness and upside in the passing game.
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21
Connor Williams, OT, Texas 4
Williams lined up at left tackle for the Longhorns and that is where I’m projecting him to play at the next level. He has excellent height/bulk for the position and average length. In the passing game, he’s fluid out of his stance. He possesses the foot quickness to kick out and cover up speed rushers. He’s a very easy mover and plays with excellent knee bend. He has a sharp punch, but occasionally, he is late to shoot his hands and allows defenders to get into his chest. In the run game, he can latch and generate movement at the point of attack. However, he gets overaggressive at times, lunging and whiffing. He is very athletic working up to the second level. Overall, Williams didn’t play as well last fall (he also missed significant time with injury) as he did the previous season, but I still view him as a quality starting NFL tackle.
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22
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is a lean, explosive receiver who lined up both outside and in the slot for Alabama. He uses a variety of releases to escape press coverage and gets up to top speed in a hurry. He’s an excellent route runner. He accelerates into the break point before snapping off and generating separation. He has strong hands to pluck low balls and tracks the deep ball naturally. Ridley is not a physical, 50-50-ball type of player — his game is more about speed and quickness than strength and power. He’s slithery after the catch and uses his speed to create chunk plays after short completions. His production was average, but that is the fault of the offense and quarterback. Overall, Ridley is more than a home-run hitter and I believe he’ll be a top-tier No. 2 wideout at the next level.
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23
James Daniels, C, Iowa 2
Daniels is a very athletic and technically proficient center. In the run game, he’s extremely quick and effective on reach blocks and second-level blocks. I’m amazed by his ability to stay attached with his hands while he re-works his foot positioning. In pass pro, he plays with outstanding knee bend and balance. He shoots his hands quickly and can anchor against power as well as redirect vs. counters. He’s very aware. Daniels is one of the best center prospects I’ve evaluated in the last five years.
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24
Taven Bryan, DT, Florida 2
Bryan is a very athletic, twitched-up defensive tackle. As a pass rusher, he has an excellent get-off. He launches out of his stance and flashes an impressive push/pull move to generate pressure. When he has proper hand placement, he can push the pocket with outstanding power. He does needs to add more hand moves to his arsenal, but he has the raw tools to develop into an outstanding interior pass rusher at the next level. Bryan is very inconsistent against the run. He plays too high, struggles to resist pressure on angle blocks and loses sight of the ball. He’s at his best when slanting and shooting gaps. Overall, Bryan isn’t a finished product, but he has Pro Bowl-caliber traits and could emerge as a premier interior pass rusher.
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25
Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP NR
Hernandez has average height and a very thick/square build for the position. He lines up at left guard for the Miners and completely dominates in the run game. He is quick out of his stance and uses his upper strength to torque and dump defenders at the point of attack. He does a nice job of re-working his hands to maintain inside position and maintain leverage. In pass protection, he has the power base to anchor bull rushers and surprising quickness to redirect vs. athletic defenders. He piles up some gnarly knockdowns when he’s uncovered. He’s always looking for extra work. Overall, Hernandez is a tempo setter in the run game and more than adequate in the passing game. He had a great Senior Bowl and combine.
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26
Sony Michel, RB, Georgia 2
Michel is one of my favorite players in this entire draft class. He has a perfect build for the position and runs with a nice blend of power, quickness and elusiveness. On inside runs, he’s very loose/slithery and he runs with ideal pad level. He drops his shoulder on contact and generates space when none is available. He has enough juice to get to the perimeter, and while he lacks home-run speed, he’s rarely caught from behind. In the passing game, he runs crisp routes and catches the ball smoothly. He’s been very stout in pass protection. Overall, Michel reminds me a lot of Kareem Hunt and I think he’s capable of making a similar impact at the next level.
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27
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa 9
Jackson has good size for the position and I love his versatility to play inside and outside. He was deployed in a variety of coverages in Iowa’s scheme and was effective in all of them. In press coverage, he isn’t physical, but he’s very fluid to open up and mirror. I have some concerns about his deep speed, but he wasn’t really challenged in the games I studied. He is at his best in zone coverage, where he sees through the wideout to the quarterback. He’s quick to identify routes, break on the ball and finish. He has rare ball skills, which creates some spectacular picks. He’s an effective wrap/drag tackler in the run game. Overall, Jackson might lack ideal twitch and deep speed, but his combination of size and ball skills is outstanding. He is a plug-and-play starter.
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28
Donte Jackson, CB, LSU 8
Jackson is an undersized cornerback with rare twitch and make-up speed. LSU moved him all over the field in its scheme. He played inside, outside and even took some reps at safety. In press coverage, he’s patient, but I’d like to see him be more physical with his hands at the line of scrimmage. He usually plays out of a quarter turn (butt toward the sideline). He uses his quickness and speed to mirror wideouts underneath and down the field. He rarely gets caught out of position, but when he does, he has the speed to recover. From off coverage, he has a quick pedal and is a very easy/fluid mover. His instincts and ball skills are good but not great. He’s a willing tackler, but he’s not ultra-aggressive in run support. Overall, Jackson doesn’t make a ton of plays, but I believe his best football is ahead of him. He’s a special athlete.
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29
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Kirk is a compact, muscled-up WR. He’s built like a running back and plays in the slot as well as outside. He’s an exceptional route runner. He understands how to leverage defensive backs, sell double-moves and cleanly enter/exit the break point. He has strong hands and tracks the ball smoothly. He does a lot of work in the middle of the field and doesn’t let the heavy traffic affect his concentration. I love his strength, elusiveness and will after the catch. Kirk reminds me a lot of Golden Tate coming out of Notre Dame, and I believe he can have similar success.
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30
Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest NR
Bates is a tall, lean safety for the Demon Deacons. He has outstanding range, instincts and ball skills from the deep middle and he flashed the ability to match up in the slot. He’s a very fluid athlete and has plenty of makeup speed if he’s caught out of position. Against the run, he’s quick to key/read and fill the alley. He is a low, wrap/drag tackler and he does have some misses on tape. His lack of strength shows up at times. Overall, Bates is a very athletic middle-of-the-field defender and he has the versatility to cover in the slot. He should quickly emerge as a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
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31
Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina 3
Hurst is a former pro baseball player who walked on as a tight end for the Gamecocks. He has excellent size, speed and ball skills. He was primarily used as a move tight end. As a route runner, he is very smooth and quickly builds speed. At South Carolina, he wasn’t asked to run a lot of traditional option routes and work back to the quarterback. However, he excels on vertical routes and crossers. He tracks the ball smoothly and has a big catch radius. He received the ball quite a bit on tight end reverses and proved plenty capable of making defenders miss or out-running them to the corner. He’s more than willing as a run blocker and, while he lacks power, he does a nice job of shielding defenders. Hurst should be a Day 1 starter and has tremendous upside.
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32
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State 8
Vander Esch is a long, instinctive and fast inside linebacker. Against the run, he’s quick to key/read and aggressively shoot gaps. He does a good job sorting through the trash to find the ball. He flashes the ability to pop/separate from blockers, but at times, he’s too narrow and gets washed out. He has outstanding speed/range. He’s a highly productive tackler, but also produces a couple fly-by missed tackles in every game. He has ideal size/speed to mirror tight ends in coverage and he’s a productive blitzer. Vander Esch was one of the most productive players in the country this past season and should be an immediate starter at the next level.
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33
Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford 1
Phillips is a powerful defensive tackle with excellent production and a non-stop motor. He dominates against the run. He jolts blockers with a quick, explosive punch before locating the football and collecting tackles. He understands blocking schemes, routinely defeating double-teams with his quickness and awareness. His lateral range is exceptional and he never seems to tire out despite rarely coming off the field. As a pass rusher, he generates a steady push with his bull rush and flashes a quick slap/swim move. He needs to improve as a finisher. He has some ankle tightness and struggles to flatten out once he gets upfield. Phillips offers immediate value on run downs and I believe he’s going to improve as a pass rusher at the next level. He reminds me of Kyle Williams coming out of LSU.
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34
Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan 13
Hurst is an undersized defensive tackle with exceptional quickness and awareness. Against the pass, he has elite get-off. He explodes off the snap and has a collection of effective hand moves to generate pressure. His bread-and-butter move is a quick swipe before wrapping around the blocker and exploding toward the quarterback. Against the run, he relies on his quickness to beat cut-off blocks and disrupt. Occasionally, he’ll get stuck on blocks and is moved out of the hole. His effort is excellent. Hurst is an ideal 3-technique and could emerge as one of the best interior pass rushers in the league. However, he was diagnosed with a heart condition at the NFL Scouting Combine and didn’t participate in drills.
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35
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
McGlinchey started at right tackle and left tackle during his collegiate career. He has outstanding size for the position. In the passing game, he has average quickness out of his stance but uses his length to keep his chest clean and anchor vs. bull rushers. He does get too narrow at times, which causes him to struggle vs. both speed and counter rushers. I think he’ll benefit from a move back to the right side. In the run game, he does a good job of getting underneath opponents and generating movement at the point of attack. He’s very aware vs. twists and stunts. McGlinchey had some games where he struggled (see: Miami), but he has all of the desired traits to emerge as a quality starting right tackle at the next level.
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36
Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Oliver has excellent size, length and speed for the position. He’s at his best in press coverage. He shoots his hands and re-routes wide receivers before staying on their hip down the field. He has plenty of speed to carry vertical routes. From off coverage, he has some stiffness when he has to open up and change directions. He has good ball awareness down the field (see: pass breakup against UCLA). I love his aggressiveness and physicality in the running game. He fights through blocks and he’s a reliable tackler in space. Oliver has the ideal skill set to thrive as a press cornerback at the next level. He needs to improve his flexibility and transition movement in off coverage.
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37
Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
Wynn was an undersized left tackle for the Bulldogs; he projects as a starting guard at the next level. In the run game, he is sudden out of his stance and can roll his hips on contact, generating movement at the point of attack. His hand strength is outstanding. He’s very effective as a puller because of his ability to redirect and cover up linebackers in space. In pass protection, he keeps his hands tight and he’s a natural knee-bender. He will lunge and whiff on rare occasions, but he’s usually patient and stays on balance. He is very aware of blitzers (see: him vs. Minkah Fitzpatrick in the national title game). Wynn has some previous experience at guard and I believe he has Pro Bowl ability at that position.
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38
Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
Harrison is a hulking safety prospect with a nice blend of versatility, toughness and instincts. He moved around in the Alabama defense, aligning as the high safety at times while dropping down in the box, as well. In zone coverage, he’s quick to read his keys and flow to the ball. He has excellent range when he’s working in the deep half. When he’s in the box, he flies to the alley to collect tackles on quick throws to the perimeter. He isn’t as effective in man coverage. He has some lower-body stiffness and his change of direction is average. He’s excellent against the run. He attacks the line of scrimmage and breaks down before securing the tackle. He has a very high batting average as a tackler. Harrison is a very well-rounded safety and he’s ready to play right away.
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39
Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
Landry is an undersized edge rusher. At BC, he was deployed as a hand-in-the-ground defensive end and a stand-up outside linebacker. Against the pass, he lacks an elite get-off, but he has a variety of hand moves and bends really well coming off the corner. He’s very successful when he bends/rips/flattens to the quarterback. He also has the ability to widen and convert speed to power against opposing tackles. His effort is excellent. He was an outstanding finisher in 2016, but fell off of a few sacks in 2017. He’s inconsistent against the run. He flashes the quickness to cross the face of blockers and collect tackles, but once engaged, he struggles to get off blocks. He needs to get stronger. I see Landry as a fit for teams that employ a 3-4 defense and are looking for a pass-rush upgrade. He has some similarities to Dee Ford coming out of Auburn.
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40
Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon 2
Crosby lined up at left tackle for the Ducks. He has a nice blend of size, power and instincts. In the passing game, he lacks upper-tier quickness, but he does a nice job of staying square, shooting his hands and steering opponents. He will have some trouble with elite speed rushers, but I believe he’ll benefit from a move to the right side. I love what he brings in the run game. He consistently generates movement on down blocks and he’s a nasty finisher. He also takes good angles when working up to the second level before latching and controlling linebackers. I wish he were a little more athletic, but he has all of the skills to be a solid starting right tackle.
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41
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville 2
Jackson has been the most dynamic playmaker in college football for the last two seasons, operating out of the shotgun in the Cardinals’ offense. He has a lean, narrow frame. He has quick feet in his setup and he bounces on his toes once he gets to the top of his drop. He throws with a very narrow base. He generates tremendous velocity despite flipping the ball and failing to generate any power or torque from his lower half. He’s more accurate/consistent on in-breaking routes and over-the-top touch throws. His accuracy suffers when he has to drive the ball outside the numbers. He is too stiff on his front leg and the ball sails on him. His pocket presence has improved over the last year and he excels avoiding unblocked rushers. He’s the most electric runner at the position to enter the NFL in the last decade. On designed QB runs, he’s very elusive and slithery. Overall, Jackson needs time to work out some mechanical issues, but his playmaking ability is special.
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42
B.J. Hill, DT, N.C. State NR
Hill lines up at defensive tackle for the Wolfpack. He has broad shoulders and a thick, muscular frame for the position. Against the run, he plays with balance and power at the point of attack and flashes the quickness to penetrate/disrupt. His effort to chase plays is excellent. As a pass rusher, he has a quick slap/rip move and he generates a lot of pressures. He lacks sack production, but I believe that will come in time. Overall, Hill is very athletic and his best football is ahead of him.
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43
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State 4
Goedert has ideal size, ball skills and toughness for the position. At South Dakota State, he lined up in-line, flexed in the slot or split out wide. In the passing game, he builds speed as a route runner and has subtle quickness at the top of his routes. He understands how to keep defenders on his back and has strong reliable hands. He lacks big-time burst after the catch but he runs hard and is tough to bring down. In the run game, he effectively shields defenders over his nose and can generate some movement on down blocks. Goedert isn’t an electric playmaker, but he’s dependable in every facet of the position.
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44
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia 5
Chubb is a powerfully built running back. He’s at his best running between the tackles. He has excellent vision. He runs with a high pad level, but he has incredible contact balance. Defenders routinely bounce off him in the hole and he always fights for extra yards. On perimeter runs, he doesn’t bring the ideal suddenness to get the corner, but once he gets north/south, he’s a load to bring down. He lacks home-run speed, but he racks up a lot of doubles. In the passing game, he has strong/reliable hands and he’s dependable in limited pass-protection opportunities. Chubb reminds me of Jonathan Stewart coming out of college, but he doesn’t quite have the same burst. However, he did help himself with an impressive combine performance.
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45
Brian O’Neill, OT, Pitt 1
O’Neill is a very intriguing left tackle prospect. The former tight end has good size and outstanding quickness. In the passing game, he’s very quick out of his stance. He displays the ability to kick out wide and cover up speed rushers. When he shoots his hands on time, he can steer and control defenders. He needs to improve his knee bend/leverage. If defenders get into his chest, he struggles to sink his weight and settle vs. power rushers. He’s very aware vs. twists and blitzers. In the run game, he is at his best on pulls and combo blocks. His quickness is his best asset. Pitt threw him a couple balls in the games I watched and he showed off his speed/athleticism. O’Neill needs to get stronger and improve his knee-bend, but he should emerge as a starting left tackle.
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46
D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland NR
Moore is a thick, muscled-up wideout with outstanding toughness, burst and savvy. He lines up both outside and in the slot for the Terrapins. He powers through press coverage and understands how to set up defenders before snapping off his route. He collects a lot of quick hitters in this offense, but he flashes the ability to work down the seam as well as over the top. He tracks the ball naturally. He can adjust and finish on poor throws. He’s at his best after the catch. Moore routinely breaks tackles, makes defenders miss or runs away from them. His competitiveness is off the charts. I won’t be surprised if Moore ends up being the best receiver in this draft class.
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47
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State NR
Penny has an ideal blend of size, speed and production. He gets a lot of work in the SDSU offense and he’s proven he can carry a heavy load. On inside runs, he has excellent vision. While he doesn’t often punish defenders, he does absorb contact and generate extra yards. He has enough speed to get to the perimeter, and once in the open field, he can find a second gear to go the distance. He doesn’t offer a lot of wiggle, but he does possess a firm stiff arm. He can catch the ball naturally, but he isn’t used much in pass protection and will need some time to develop in that area. He has been ultra-productive as a kickoff returner throughout his career.
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48
Austin Corbett, OG, Nevada NR
Corbett lines up at left tackle for the Wolfpack. I’m projecting him to slide inside to guard at the next level. In pass protection, he has a strong punch, firm base and excellent awareness. He keeps his hands in tight and once he latches on, he can easily steer and control defenders. He will occasionally struggle to kick out and cover up speed rushers. That’s why the move inside will help his stock. In the run game, he is quick off the ball and can roll his hips on contact to generate movement. He will need a little time to transition to a pro-style offense, but I foresee him becoming a high-quality interior starter very early in his career.
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49
Billy Price, C, Ohio State 19
Price was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes. He played both guard and center during his career. He was a very dominant run blocker while lining up at center in 2017. He has quick feet and a very powerful base. He latches on and flashes the upper torque to rag-doll opposing defenders. He isn’t a great knee-bender, but once he gets his hands on you, he stays attached. He does struggle with balance at the second level. He gets overly aggressive and ends up on the ground too often. In pass protection, he can anchor easily against power rushers and he’s very aware vs. twists and stunts. I love his strength, toughness and position flexibility. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s a Day 1 starter at either guard or center. He did suffer a pectoral injury while performing in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine and was unable to work out.
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50
Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State NR
Shepherd is a very disruptive interior defensive lineman. He’s a chiseled 315 pounds and physically dominates in every tape I’ve studied. Against the pass, he plays a little high, but he uses his foot quickness and upper-body strength to generate a lot of pressure. He has tremendous raw power. Against the run, he can generate knock-back at the point of attack and he has the speed/athleticism to make plays from the backside. He needs to improve his overall awareness. He loses sight of the ball too often. Overall, Shepherd is raw, but he has outstanding upside as a three-down interior defender.
Falling out: Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown (31), LSU LB Arden Key (33), Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard (41), SMU WR Courtland Sutton (45), Washington WR Dante Pettis (46), Mississippi State OT Martinas Rankin (48), Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson (50).

John Mayall has an interesting history. Do you know it? It’s worth reading up on.

…

Zooey wrote:

I couldn’t care less about who is friends with whom, but what is this about?

They were friends before, and that was widely known and mentioned. But right now they are shaping up to be very tough rivals. So AG is just making a quip about that.

Reaction to Seahawks moves has been a bit over the top

Reaction to Seahawks moves has been a bit over the top

The Seahawks are clearly making serious changes this off-season. It’s just as clear that a lot of fans aren’t one bit happy about this. Chill.

Call it rebuilding if you like. Call it retooling if you’re a bit more generous. And if you’re feeling really grumpy, you might call it total annihilation. No matter what you call it, the Seahawks are making major changes going into 2018.

Naturally the reaction in social media has been all over the map. Many people have been supportive of the tough decisions facing the Seahawks. And on the other hand, some have been, oh, less than supportive.

This tweet is one of my favorites of those critical statements.

Fire John,he’s a clown, and your rich owner doesn’t know anything bout football. dismantling a great team cause they missed the playoffs once in 5 yrs.sad to c and I’m a lifelong Steeler fan. Feeling for u 12’s

— Roloff1 (@RoloffH) March 10, 2018

First, I appreciate this person’s sentiment. Clearly a fan of football in general, as the “dismantling” of the Seahawks bothers them even though they are a fan of the Steelers. We appreciate your concern. But I have to take exception with the particulars of these comments. Not just these, of course, but it’s a classic representation of what I’ve seen.
You do know you’re criticizing the guys who built the team, right?

John Schneider and Pete Carroll are the “clowns’ that assembled this great team. As the writer made clear, they aren’t a fan of the Seahawks. I’ll give this person a pass because of that. Maybe they really didn’t know that those two drafted Paul Richardson. Or signed the brilliant Doug Baldwin as an undrafted free agent. Or found Richard Sherman in the fifth round. Let’s just leave it at this: if John Schneider is a clown, he’s also the part-time ringmaster, along with Pete Carroll.

The rich owner may not know anything about football. He does, but for the sake of argument, let’s just agree he doesn’t. At least he knows this much: he knows to hire people that do know a lot about football. You know, the people that built the team that made the playoffs five straight years. The ones that signed the talent that made it to two Super Bowls and won one. Those clowns.
The Seahawks aren’t moving players because they lost

Finally, the Seahawks are not dismantling the team because they missed the playoffs for the first time in five years. That’s why they dismantled the coaching staff, and no, I’m not kidding. As for the team, it’s all about money. Money the Seahawks didn’t have, precisely because it takes a lot of money to keep all that great talent. Releasing Richard Sherman and other moves have more than doubled the salary cap space for Seattle. This is exactly the kind of move needed to keep players like Earl Thomas. As great as Richard Sherman is, he’s easier to replace than Thomas.

The NFL is a young man’s game, as Michael Bennett alluded to in January. It takes money to get new players, to get younger. Money you create buy moving older established players. These weren’t easy moves. And they might not have all been the right ones. But they had almost no ability to improve the team without making some serious decisions. Now, they have the chance to – well, I’ll go with retool.